This place has been in the Inner Sunset for over forty years, and is still packed with people for straightforward rolls, nigiri, and handrolls, and superb appetizers, like miso-glazed eggplant and agedashi tofu. Things at this casual spot also run smoothly: Even though Ebisu is loud and the tables are somewhat cramped, the service is quick and the people running it are always checking in on you. Post up at the sushi counter where things feel less chaotic.

Dinner at Ken on Divisadero feels like an exclusive dinner party—and one filled with flawless nigiri, silky chawanmushi, and dashi-soaked tomatoes that burst like water balloons in your mouth. The omakase counter is only six seats, so you'll easily have a conversation with the person on the opposite side of the bar, or crack jokes and exchange stories with the eponymous chef.

You'll probably have to wait for a table at this walk-in-only spot in Noe Valley. It’s tiny, with just a few seats at the bar and a couple of dining room tables. But when you finally sit and the friendly staff starts bringing perfect pieces of fatty tuna and yellowtail belly nigiri to the table, you’ll know the wait was worth it. Come to Saru to share the more basic sushi rolls, like sweet potato tempura or tuna maki, and specialty ones like the White Out with seared escarole and garlic ponzu.

Dinner at Eiji, the snug Japanese restaurant in the Castro, always feels like gathering around a good friend’s kitchen table—and that friend happens to make the best sushi rolls, delicate ankake tofu, and soy-glazed tuna belly. The theme at this somewhat pastoral spot is light, bright, and simple: A juicy halved cherry tomato to cap off the pickly ceviche roll, single shiso leaves to liven up slices of the spicy tuna poke roll, and a punchy vinegar to marinate a crunchy cucumber sunomono.

There aren’t many spots that are trendier than a NYFW runway, serve great omakase, and let you pay on a sliding scale. That’s how it works at Robin: Tell the waiter exactly how much in the $109-$209 range you’re willing to spend. From there, you’ll receive a proportional amount of things like roasted kabocha squash miso soup, truffle sesame noodles, lots of nigiri, and A5 wagyu dusted in melty shaved foie gras. Whatever you end up throwing down, Robin makes going out for omakase easy.

Saru Handroll Bar (formerly known as Saru Sushi Bar) is laser-focused on one thing: simple yet flawless handrolls. The operation at this Russian Hill spot is pretty straightforward. Just slide up to the bar, mark your order on the paper menu, and wait for a sushi chef to hand you neatly rolled pockets of fish and vinegared rice. There are sets of three, four, or five, and they all include high-quality, uncomplicated fillings like fatty tuna or crispy green onion-topped yellowtail.

To say fans of Daigo, the long-running Richmond sushi staple, were devastated when it closed in the summer of 2022 is like saying Michelle Yeoh is just a “good” actor—an understatement of the century. But on the bright side, the old space is now occupied by a sushi newcomer that’s just as exciting. Shoshin Sushi is the answer to all your casual weeknight sushi needs.

Most of the other spots on this guide are Nice Restaurants where you’re likely dropping a large chunk of change. But when you want that same high-quality fish for a fraction of the price, get that sushi fix at Hokkaido Sashimi Marketplace, a convenience store and sushi counter in the Richmond. Their rolls mostly max out at $13 (with the exception of a toro roll that’s $16), and they’re on par with—if not better than—what you’d get at any sit-down spot across town.

You probably aren’t picturing an open hallway inside of a mall when you imagine an omakase-style dinner. But that’s exactly where you’ll find Oma San Francisco Station, a small omakase counter in the Japan Center where keeping it casual is the appeal. That, and the fantastic nigiri sliced with precision. Here, you’ll also make small talk with the chefs while listening to ambient mall chatter and eating slow-cooked duck breast and plain udon with uni sauce.

The rice at Sushi Sato, a new Japanese restaurant in Polk Gulch, is life-changing—it’s wonderfully sticky and vinegar-y, and holds its shape before dissolving into a sweet finish in your mouth. You will never look at sushi rice the same way, ever again, whether you get it in simply-prepared sashimi and nigiri (you can order them a la carte or as part of a tasting), handrolls, and decadent chirashi bowls. Rice aside, come here for the appetizers, like a refreshing tomato ceviche.

Sasa is another Japantown mall sushi spot, but it's one you and all your friends can easily walk into to order some beautifully-presented fish. The dining room is spacious, and there’s a long communal table perfect for groups. The menu also has something for everyone, from uni and ikura donburi and well-balanced specialty rolls to golden-brown chicken karaage—and they're spot-on every time. We recommend going for the “mystery box” ($42) filled with chef's choice sashimi.

At this Hayes Valley spot, you get the best of both worlds—an omakase option stacked with yuzu and garlic ponzu-topped nigiri, and creative baked rolls drowning in sauce. Domo also has great sushi-adjacent hits, like tuna poke tostadas on the airiest tempura nori. Order the creamy baked domo roll, anything panko-crusted, a few nigiri, and you’re in for a lively night in a space that can sometimes get louder than a roaring jumbo jet.

Omakase is another of the city’s high-end omakase experiences ($240 for 18 courses)—but this one also happens to feel like the world's most casual fish Happy Hour. The chef will joke and drink sake along with you, and covertly sneak you an extra cut of toro. And throughout the loose night, you’ll make friends with the strangers sitting next you and share crypto tips over custardy lobster tamago, red miso soup with clams, and buttery, gold flake-topped wagyu.

This neighborhood spot in the Richmond is the ideal place for a relaxed yet special date night when you want to break in some fancy new shoes—it's small, but not so small that the entire place will learn about the ongoing feud with your landlord. There are two options here: the sushi tasting menu ($120), or the full-blown omakase ($165). Whichever path you take will be filled with an aquarium's worth of seafood, all prepared from across the counter with finesse.

Chances are high that you, your best friend, or your best friend’s hairdresser’s cousin has been to Ju-ni at least once—and can describe the seaweed-wrapped ikura covered in a mountain of shaved frozen monkfish liver like it was yesterday. This spot in NoPa is bucket list omakase ($198), and for good reason. During the 14-course set dinner of mostly nigiri, you’ll get up close to high-end, Japan-sourced fish and tightly-wrapped, chef’s choice temaki.

Midway through a meal at The Shota in FiDi, the chef will pull out a detachable plastic model of a fish. Off will come the head, then the belly, and suddenly you'll find yourself in the midst of a delightful tuna anatomy course you won't want to end—just like the rest of dinner. From a cushy white bar seat, you’ll be treated to a luxurious 15 courses: an uni “sandwich” with caviar, handrolls, and blowtorched golden-eye snapper flown in by jet from Japan.

We usually come to this takeout-only Mission spot for their poke, which is the best in the city. But for a quick to-go sushi haul, Basa Seafood Express still fits the bill. We like reaching for the trays of pre-made combos from the deli case, like the California roll with tuna nigiri, or you can order off the long menu and choose made-to-order things like nigiri, sashimi, and specialty rolls. Get the unagi brushed with thick, sweet glaze, or anything involving salmon.

The upscale omakase spot in the Financial District has been holding it down since 2014—so expect an orderly and tightly-run operation. Throughout the 18-course meal ($198), staff will drop off things like pristine nigiri, shabu shabu with slices of toro, and braised black cod in front of you like clockwork. By the time the final course comes around (a flaky unagi nigiri), you’ll be so full you might need to be rolled out.

There aren’t many vegan sushi places in the city. But this casual Mission spot stands out for its creative (and cheesily-named) plant-based specialty rolls bursting with so many textures you’ll forget that there’s no actual fish involved. The excellent Prime Suspect has creamy gochujang aioli, crunchy sweet potato crisps, and slabs of soft marinated eggplant draped over it.

One mainstay in our rotating roster of casual sushi places is Okoze, a Russian Hill spot with something for everyone. You can get a bunch of their excellent specialty rolls for the table to share, go with the 9- or 12-piece nigiri omakase, or turn to the robata grill for salmon teriyaki and vegetables. Keep an eye on the chef’s specials section of the menu, which has things like fantastic negi toro gungan (two nigiri filled with chopped toro, sweet unagi sauce, and crispy rice crackers).